Boulder Valley schools ahead on renewable energy goals

After installing solar panels on about 30 schools, the Boulder Valley School District is ahead in meeting its five-year goals for renewable energy use.

The district's progress recently was analyzed by University of Colorado graduate students in a renewable energy policy class. The four engineering students analyzed the district's renewable energy portfolio and evaluated financing options.

"We installed a lot of renewables last year, so it was a good time to assess where we are now and what we can do as next steps," said Ghita Carroll, Boulder Valley's sustainability coordinator.

The district added solar panels at 14 schools in 2011 through a power purchase agreement with SolarCity.

SolarCity used a combination of Xcel and federal rebates to pay for the panels and is responsible for maintaining and monitoring the system. SolarCity, in turn, is selling the solar power to Boulder Valley over 20 years. The cost will remain the same, 3.8 cents per kilowatt hour or 5.5 cents per kilowatt hour depending on the school, each year.

The panels are expected to produce enough power to offset close to 15 percent of the schools' energy.

SolarCity also provides a monitoring system that allows students to track how much power their solar system is producing and how much energy they're consuming.

The district also has installed solar panels using grants and, at Casey Middle School, money from a tax increase approved by voters as part of a rebuild of the school.

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Based on the CU students' analysis, power purchase agreements provide solar panels at the lowest cost.

CU engineering graduate student Alex Pray said he and the other students looked at "anything that would make solar more appealing financially."

Using a power purchase agreement, he said, allows the district to lease the systems and pay a discounted rate for energy use that's the same as what they're already paying, making the system cost-neutral.

"A third-party financer can take advantage of a lot of tax credits that a school district cannot," he said.

Goals proposed include adding more panels at schools that already have them and those that don't. Now, districtwide, 2 percent of energy consumption is solar, 34 percent is electricity and 64 percent is gas.

Another suggestion was for the district to get involved in Boulder's municipalization discussion and advocate for solar-friendly rate schedules.

"The district has committed to becoming a leader in sustainability," Carroll said.

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